113 HR 2043 IH: Social Enterprise Ecosystem and Economic Development Commission Act of 2013
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-05-17
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.This Act may be cited as the
Social Enterprise Ecosystem and
Economic Development Commission Act of 2013
or as the
SEEED Commission Act of
2013
.
2.Commission on the
advancement of social enterprise
(a)There
is established a commission to be known as the Commission on the Advancement of
Social Enterprise (referred to in this section as the Commission).
The purpose of the commission is to examine and make recommendations with
respect to ways the Federal Government can support and utilize the
transformative power of social enterprises.
(b)Federal advisory
committee actThe Federal Advisory Committee Act does not apply
to the Commission established under this subsection.
(c)The
membership of the Commission shall be composed of the following or their
designees:
(1)The Administrator
of the Small Business Administration.
(2)The Administrator
of the Economic Development Administration.
(3)The Director of
the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.
(4)The Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
(5)The Assistant to
the President for Domestic Policy.
(6)The Director of
the Office of Management and Budget.
(7)The Commissioner
of Internal Revenue.
(8)The Secretary of
Labor.
(9)The Director of
the Census.
(10)The Director of
the National Economic Council.
(11)The Attorney
General.
(12)The Secretary of State.
(13)The Secretary of Education.
(14)The Secretary of the Treasury.
(15)The Secretary of Health and Human
Services.
(16)The Commissioner of Social Security.
(17)The Secretary of Agriculture.
(18)The Secretary of Commerce.
(19)The Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development.
(20)The Chair of the Council of Economic
Advisors.
(21)The Administrator of the General Services
Administration.
(d)
(1)The Director of the Office of Social
Innovation and Civic Participation shall serve as the Chairperson of the
Commission.
(2)
(A)The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson.
(B)The initial meeting shall take place not later than 30
days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(3)A
majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a
lesser number of members may hold hearings.
(4)The
Commission may establish, by majority vote, any rules for the conduct of
Commission business, in accordance with this Act and other applicable
law.
(e)
(1)Defining social
enterpriseNot later than 1 year after the initial meeting of the
Commission, the Commission shall establish criteria for identifying social
enterprises for purposes of Federal programs. The Commission will draw upon
existing leading research and scholarship in this area as well as the input of
practitioners and policy experts within the social enterprise field.
(2)
(A)The Commission shall identify opportunities for the
Federal Government to more effectively engage social enterprises in creating
jobs and strengthening local economies while achieving optimal outcomes in
addressing policy challenges at the national, state, and local level. The
Commission shall receive and consider reports and testimony from individuals,
government departments, State and local elected officials, community-based
organizations, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, foundations,
and other public and private organizations statewide and of national
significance on the following:
(i)How
social enterprise can accelerate progress on social issues.
(ii)How
social enterprises work in a cross-sector manner.
(iii)How social
enterprise can advance social and economic development goals.
(B)Areas of study
and recommendationThe areas studied and potential
recommendations offered by the Commission under this paragraph shall include
the following:
(i)The
role of social enterprises in the United States economy.
(ii)The
role of social enterprises in addressing economic, social, and environmental
policy challenges across all levels of government.
(iii)The role of
social enterprises as community support and development entities.
(iv)A
statistical and qualitative examination of social enterprise within the United
States and its contribution to the social and economic development of the
United States.
(v)Means through
which the Federal Government can assist in enhancing the capacity of social
enterprises.
(vi)Corporate legal
structures that foster or impede the development of social enterprises.
(vii)How to reform
the Internal Revenue Code to reduce obstacles that social enterprises face when
addressing social issues and creating economic value through innovative
methods.
(viii)How to reform
Federal securities laws to encourage impact investing.
(ix)How
the Federal Government can leverage existing Community Development Financial
Institutions programs.
(x)How
various sectors (including but not limited to philanthropic, for-profit, and
non-profit sectors) and levels of government currently interact with social
enterprises.
(xi)Review of the
current process through which social enterprises—both for-profit and nonprofit
organizations—can obtain Federal loans, grants, and contracts and offer
recommendations for improving these processes in light of the special needs and
contributions of social enterprises.
(xii)Review of the
current process, policies, and procedures through which social enterprises—both
for-profit and nonprofit organizations—can access Federal contracting
opportunities and offer recommendations for improving the access of social
enterprises to Federal procurement opportunities.
(xiii)How the Federal
Government can play a role in developing a purchasing directory of social
enterprises within the United States that can be supported by citizens,
businesses, and government.
(xiv)Opportunities for the Federal Government to
develop and expand research and the collection and analysis of longitudinal
data on social enterprises.
(xv)Barriers to social enterprise
growth.
(xvi)Opportunities for the development of an
entity or initiative to support intermediaries that will promote and invest in
social enterprise.
(xvii)Identification
of the appropriate entity within the Federal Government that shall be charged
with the responsibility of preparing an annual report to Congress on the impact
of social enterprises in the United States and the extent to which the Federal
Government interacts with, supports, and invests in social enterprises. And,
where appropriate, this entity shall monitor and update the areas of study
listed in this subparagraph.
(f)
(1)The Commission may
hold such hearings and collect such information as appropriate for carrying out
this section.
(2)Except as
otherwise prohibited by law, the Commission may secure directly from any
Federal department or agency information the Commission considers necessary to
carry out this section. Upon the request of the Commission, the head of the any
Federal agency shall furnish information requested under this paragraph to the
Commission.
(3)The Commission may
enter into contracts for research to inform the deliberations of the
Commission.
(4)The Commission may
use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as
other agencies of the Federal Government.
(g)Commission
personnel matters
(1)A member of the Commission shall be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an
employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United
States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the
member in the performance of the duties of the Commission.
(2)Detail of
Federal employeesOn the
affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members of the Commission
and the approval of the appropriate Federal agency head, an employee of the
Federal Government at GS–13 level or higher may be detailed to the Commission
without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of
civil service status, benefits, or privileges.
(3)
(A)
(i)Appointment and
compensationThe chairperson, in accordance with rules agreed
upon by the Commission, may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff
director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission
to carry out its functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United
States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without
regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such
title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no
rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that
payable for a position at Level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316
of title 5, United States Code.
(ii)Personnel as
Federal employees
(I)Any personnel of the Commission who are employees shall
be employees under section 2105 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of
chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, and 90 of that title.
(II)Members of the
commissionSubparagraph (I) shall not be construed to apply to
members of the Commission.
(B)Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States
Code, the Commission may accept and use voluntary and uncompensated services as
the Commission determines necessary.
(4)Procurement of
temporary and intermittent servicesOn request of the Commission,
the Attorney General shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis,
reasonable and appropriate office space, supplies, and administrative
assistance.
(h)
(1)On an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the
members of the Commission, the Commission may select nongovernmental
researchers and experts to assist the Commission in carrying out the duties of
the Commission under this section.
(2)Nothing in this subsection limits the ability of
the Commission to enter into contracts with any other entity or organization to
carry out research necessary to carry out the duties of the Commission under
this section.
(i)Not
later than 1 year after the Commission establishes criteria by which to
identify social enterprise, the Commission shall submit to the President and
Congress a report on the Commission’s findings, conclusions, and
recommendations. The report shall identify the Federal programs recommended and
shall include—
(1)reports on all
matters studied as described in subsection (b); and
(2)how existing
Federal Government programs can be expanded to take advantage of the social and
economic benefits of social enterprises.
(j)The
Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Commission
submits the report of the Commission under subsection (i).
(k)Availability of
appropriationsFunds appropriated to the Commission shall be
available for the duration of the Commission.